Image
Summer Camps 2026
Registration is OPEN!!!
Please contact traill@illinois.edu with questions.
A hands-on meeting with the ancient world”: an LAS News story about the camps (July 19, 2024).
Meet the Romans!
“Meet the Romans” introduces kids to ancient Roman civilization. Learn stories about gods, heroes, and monsters, as well as the lives of ordinary Roman kids. Put on your toga as you create your own Roman arts and crafts, and learn some Latin, too. Latin is a great way to boost advanced English vocabulary: 90% of English words of more than two syllables come from Latin. There are different activities in each half-week session.
2026 Dates and Times: June 1-5, 1:00-5:00PM; June 15-19, 8:30AM-12:30PM
Note: There are different activities each week and different instructors, for campers who wish to attend more than one session
Ages: 8-11
Class size: 16-20 children with two instructors, two CITs & adult volunteers as available
Location: TBA
Image
Meet the Greeks!
“Meet the Greeks” introduces kids to ancient Greek civilization. Learn about Greek myths, like the stories of Perseus and Medusa or Artemis and Apollo. Discover the original Olympics and learn about the lives of real ancient Greek kids. Try wearing Greek clothing and check out ancient toys. Create your own Greek arts and crafts and learn a little language too! Greek roots abound in English. There are different activities in each half-week session.
2026 Dates and Times: June 1-5, 8:30AM-12:30PM; June 8-12, 8:30AM-12:30PM & 1:00-5:00PM; June 15-19, 1:00-5:00PM
Note: There are different activities each session and each week and different instructors for campers who wish to attend more than one session.
Ages: 8-11
Class size: 16-20 children with two instructors, two CITs & adult volunteers as available
Location: TBA
Image
CAMP INFORMATION
Instructors: Instructors hold or are completing a BA/MAT/MA/PhD in Classics. For further information, see “Meet the Classics Staff” on the web site.
Cost: $135/week per camp ($270/both camps - full day), plus $35 materials and registration processing fee per child. Minimum registration is one-week half-days.
Limited need-based scholarship aid available. Contact the director for further information.
Curriculum: Our language learning goal areas are novice mid-level (one week) or novice high level (two or more weeks) as per the Standards for Classical Language Learning, in compliance with ACTFL World Readiness Standards.
Location: On the University of Illinois Main Campus
Lunch: Lunch supervision provided for children who register for the full day.
Questions: Contact Ariana Traill, Classics Camps Director
Staff for 2026:
Image
Ariana Traill (she/her)
Camps Director
Ariana Traill has a BA from Toronto 1991 & a PhD from Harvard 1997. She is a Professor & the current Department Head in the Department of the Classics. She has run Classics Summer Camps since 2015. Her professional experience includes teaching Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization the University of Illinois, since 2003. Her first teaching experience was in Latin, French and Music at a Canadian high school.
Contact: traill@illinois.edu Phone: (217) 621-9912
Image
Vaughn Fenton (he/him)
Lead teacher
Vaughn Fenton has a B.A in History and Classics from Virginia Tech. He is currently a Classics PhD student at the University of Illinois and is preparing for career as a scholar of Classics. At the University of Illinois, Vaughn has taught numerous Myth discussion sections and has assisted for a variety of classes, including Introduction to Ancient Greek Culture and Development of Ancient Cities. In his free time, he likes to paint and build models.
Vaughn is returning for his fourth year in Classics Summer Camps.
Contact: vfenton2@illinois.edu
Image
Alexander Maltby (he/him)
Aide; Lead teacher
Alexander has B.A.'s in History and Classics from the University of California, Riverside and an M.A. in Classics from Texas Tech University. Currently, he is a PhD student in Classics at the University of Illinois. Alexander has taught and assisted in courses ranging from Introductory Latin to Classical Mythology. He is excited to return to Classics Summer Camps. Outside of the classroom, Alexander enjoys playing video games, hanging out with his cat Theo, and reading whatever he can get his hands on.
Alexander is returning for his second year in Classics Summer Camps
Contact: amaltby2@illinois.edu
Image
Linnea Mason (she/her)
Linnea has a B.A. in Classical Studies from William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She is currently getting her MAT in Latin from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At University of Illinois, Linnea has led discussion sections for Classical Mythology and Greco-Roman Antiquity and US Minority Cultures. She is looking forward to working at the Classics Summer Camps. In her free time, Linnea enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her sister!
This is Linnea’s first year at the Classics Summer Camps.
Contact: lrmason2@illinois.edu
Image
Bekah Shively (she/her)
Bekah has a B.A. in Classics and History from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH. She is currently an MAT in Latin student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bekah has taught several discussion sections for CLCV 224, and she is excited for her first year of Classics Summer Camps. Outside of the classroom, Bekah loves to cook and bake, play video games, and hang out with her partner, Nick, and their cat, Sage.
This is Bekah's first year in Classics Summer Camps
Contact: shively4@illinois.edu
Image
Counselor in Training Program
Are you aged (13-17) and interested in ancient Greek and Roman stories and culture? Do you enjoy working with kids? Classics Summer Camps welcomes applications for our new Counselor in Training Program.
Responsibilities
- Participate fully in camps activities and be a positive influence. Camps run according to a schedule of activities distributed at the beginning of each week.
- Help children master new skills, complete projects, and have fun in a safe, friendly environment.
- Work cooperatively with camps instructors to provide a positive experience for all campers.
- Be willing to learn and use new information about Greco-Roman antiquity, including some Latin and/or Greek.
Training
One hour orientation covering safety, camps code of conduct, camps activities, and skills needed to work with children, including classroom management, before camps begin. The rest of the training will take place during camps. CIT’s will be supported in developing leadership skills.
Hours
Up to 20 hours per session (= one week half days).
Cost: $60.00 per session (= one week half days). No registration fee.
Application
To apply, please send a short (150-200 word) statement about why you would like to be a counselor in training to Prof. Ariana Traill, Director, Classics Summer Camps (traill@illinois.edu) by May 1, 2026. Applicants will be asked to participate in a short Zoom interview with parents/legal guardians present. Application will remain open until all positions are filled.